The Summerville Town Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday morning to discuss the adoption of a new public safety pay plan aimed at addressing officer retention and preventing local police officers from leaving for higher-paying positions in surrounding areas.
Proposal Details
Under the new proposal, every police officer in Summerville, from new recruits to the chief, would receive a $6,000 raise. The total cost of the plan is $590,000, which would be drawn from the current budget and additional funding.
This increase aims to improve retention within the department and create room for new hires.
The plan also includes a pay increase for firefighters in Summerville.
Addressing Pay Gaps with Neighboring Agencies
Summerville Deputy Chief of Police Chris Hirsch highlighted that many officers, especially those who live in Summerville, are commuting 30 to 45 minutes to work in cities like Charleston, where agencies offer higher salaries. Hirsch emphasized the importance of encouraging officers to live and work in the community they serve.
“Having a police car in a driveway in a neighborhood where you live, that means something,” Hirsch said. “We’re trying to be competitive. We want people to live in the town and to work in the town.”
Strong Community Support
Hirsch also noted that Summerville’s police department has strong community support, which makes the town an ideal place to both live and work.
“You can’t live or work in a better place than Summerville,” Hirsch added. “We’re just trying to remain competitive with some of our neighboring agencies.”
Potential Impact
If approved, the $6,000 pay raise could go into effect as soon as July 1, 2026.
The budget workshop meeting will take place at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, where the council will discuss the proposed plan in detail.
